About

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce a new food to the children in your classroom. The more times children are exposed to new foods, the more likely they are to eat and enjoy these foods in the future.

Overview

In this lesson, children will taste test spinach prepared two different ways.

Learning Objectives

  1. Children will complete the second of four spinach tasting experiences.
  2. Children will describe if raw spinach and sautéed spinach are similar or different in appearance, smell and taste.

Teaching Objectives

  1. Teachers will model healthy eating behavior for children.

Teaching Tips

  • Some children may not want to try even small samples of raw spinach or sautéed spinach. Encourage each child in your classroom to try one bite of spinach.
  • The more times children are exposed to new foods the more likely they are to like the new food.
  • Children are more likely to try a new food if you model the behavior!

Prep Info

knife and cutting board

Equipment Required

materials

Materials/Supplies

* Optional

Before the Lesson

  • Prepare samples of raw and sautéed spinach for each child.

An easy way to prepare sauteed spinach:

  1. Wash fresh spinach leaves and let dry.
  2. In a large pot over medium heat, add 1 ½ pounds of baby spinach.
  3. Stir occasionally until spinach leaves wilt and turn a vibrant green color. and steam.

Activity

Introduction

This activity will work well at tables in small groups. Each table should have two plates: one plate with samples of raw spinach and one plate with samples of sautéed spinach.

Words to Use

Activity Description

  1. Gather the children in small groups at their tables after they have washed their hands.
  2. Ask the children what food is in the middle of the table. Remind the children of when they were food detectives. Ask the children how the raw spinach and cooked spinach look alike and how they look different.
  3. Instruct each child to take a sample of raw Spinach.
  4. After every child has a sample, ask the children to smell the Spinach. Ask the children how the spinach smells.
  5. Encourage each child to take at least one bite of spinach.
  6. After everyone has smelled and tasted the sample, ask the children if they liked the spinach.
  7. Repeat this process for the sautéed spinach.
  8. Ask the children if the raw spinach and sautéed spinach looked the same or looked different, smelled the same or smelled different, tasted the same or tasted different.

Summary

Enrichment

Use distance words such as near/far, close to/far from to describe objects in the room compared to samples of spinach on the tables.

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.

Weekly Log

Attention Teachers!

Following this activity, please fill out the teacher’s weekly log form for this lesson.